Development of a 3D Printed Intranasal Stent for Improving Post-Operative Recovery
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Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a clinical condition associated with inflammation of the nasal mucosa and paranasal sinuses, which persists for more than 12 weeks. Primary symptoms for chronic sinus inflammation include nasal obstruction, thick nasal discharge, reduction or loss of olfaction and facial pressure or pain, which are confirmed by endoscopic examination and/ or sinus computed tomography (CT) scans. Treatments available for CRS include the prescription of antibiotics, topical nasal steroids and/or oral steroids, antihistamines, nasal decongestant and saline irrigants. But some patients do not respond to medical treatment alone; in such cases, functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is an alternative treatment that is widely considered. Current commercially available non-dissolvable and dissolvable nasal packings and dressings are frequently used after surgery, but they fail to provide consistent wound healing and breathability when they are packed into the nasal cavity. There is an increasing interest in the development of drug-eluting stents that can provide structural support while reducing post-operative tissue adhesions. The purpose of this thesis is to develop a 3D printed intranasal stent that facilitates post-operative recovery.